Instream Flows for Recreation: A Handbook on Concepts and Research Methods

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Conducting Effective Resource Reconnaissance While fieldwork is an essential part of most instream flow studies, professionals usually face limitations in the amount of time they can spend at a river. As a result, when researchers do get to the river they need to make the most of the trip. The tools and techniques we have found useful in conducting fieldwork effectively are listed below. Although these suggestions may seem obvious to seasoned professionals, it never hurts to have a checklist. ❑ Take both video and still cameras. Even researchers with good memories or note - taking skills may be unable to recall details that become evident through photographic media. Video is particularly useful because it allows the researcher to verbally add information about what is being shown. Slides are also important. Most reports will be vastly improved by photos showing critical reaches or the effects of different flows on users' trips. Make sure to date and place both media so the corresponding flows can be determined. Developing lists of places and /or issues to photograph prior to the trip can be useful as well; it is easy to become preoccupied with other chores while in the field. ❑ Prepare a waterproof large -scale topographic map prior to the trip and take along waterproof pens for easy notetaking (see Figure 26 on previous page). A series of aerial photos for the river may also be useful, particularly if the USGS maps are old (rivers sometimes change enough that you won't know where you are). Determine and mark river miles and gradients on the maps or aerial photos. Try to take notes as the trip goes along, or failing that, structure note - taking breaks. In bad weather or on rivers where note - taking is difficult, consider a small voice - activated tape recorder. With the map in front of you, it is easy to make observations and associate them with a river mile. ❑ Have every member of the reconnaissance team keep a journal in addition to helping mark up the waterproofed map. Structure time during the trip for people to take notes and make general observations. Good professional judgments are only made after careful consideration of both immediate and long -term impressions; it will be difficult to remember the former without the help of some brief notes. A voice- activated tape recorder again offers an alternative way to record these observations without much effort on -site. Upon return to the office, of course, the tapes must be converted into written notes. ❑ Develop a "table of observations" for easy note taking in the journals or on the waterproof map. For example, if navigation is an issue, create a table with headings for "hits," "stops," "drags" and portages. As each event occurs, you can note it more easily. The point is to keep reminding yourself to take notes to make your observations more quantitative and reliable. ❑ If the fieldwork involves any larger -scale data collection efforts such as systematic inventories or hydrology transacts, divide chores among team members prior to the trip. Transacts and other tasks can take a lot of time but rarely require everyone's participation; unneeded people should move on to other tasks. ❑ If boating is an issue, try to take trips in the kind of craft that are typically used on the river. If people use different kinds of boats, researchers should attempt to use the full variety of craft. ❑ If fieldwork is conducted from a boat, take a paddle with measurements marked for quick depth checks. ❑ Take along a guide or someone who knows the river. While most recreation professionals get to know the resources they manage, it is unlikely they will know it as well as people who live or work on it. If veteran river users cannot be included as part of the fieldwork, structure time in the trip for simply talking with users you may encounter. 37